Comments on: It’s official (kind of): People prefer the Kindle

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 05:56:35 +0000

I’m a guy who likes to browse the bookstore. Having a Kindle is similar. I can browse the Amazon website, read the reviews, and read sample chapters, all before buying the book. If I want the book, I can have it in 60 seconds.

I find it easy to read books on the original Kindle and like carrying it with me, so that in my spare time, I can select among several books to read.

By: Max

Max — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 16:29:04 +0000

Outside US (Israel), 90% of the readers I see are Sony’s 505. 10% are various, usually Windows Mobile, PDAs. Kindles and iPhones = 0% (people have iPhones, but I have not seen anyone reading a book on one yet).

By: Tasmin

Tasmin — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 05:32:26 +0000

All you guys saying the Kindle for iPhone is adequate, get back to us after you’ve read 5,000 (paper book equivalent) pages on it.

In fact, anyone who wants to review the Kindle or Sony devices: You’re not allowed to do so until you’ve read 5,000 pages on them. This is a basic bit of common sense that only 5 percent of bloggers and reviewers follow, and 0.5 percent of commenters.

By: Kindle 2 vs Sony Reader, gli utenti preferiscono Kindle - Geekissimo

Kindle 2 vs Sony Reader, gli utenti preferiscono Kindle - Geekissimo — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:31:21 +0000

[...] scelto Sony PRS-700 eReader e 1 è rimasto indeciso. E’ possibile leggere il report completo qui. Cosa ne pensate? Aspettiamo le vostre opinioni nei [...]

By: mike

mike — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:50:51 +0000

Amazon just dropped the Kindle 2 price down to $299.

By: Timothy Kephart

Timothy Kephart — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:55:00 +0000

Oh look at that, it’s 2:30am and a friend recommended I read The Art of Start by Guy Kawasaki. Brick and Mortar’s are closed. No worries, it’s available on my Kindle. I’ll just buy it real quick so I’ll have it for my 6am flight out today.

By: Timothy Kephart

Timothy Kephart — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:05:27 +0000

That’s such a dumb statement: “People don’t want these things, and will never.”

According to this Wall Street Analyst they estimate 800,000 Kindle’s sold. http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=20473

According to you, 800,000 “nobody”

I’m going on a cruise in a week. No need to pack 20 books. Just take the Kindle and I’ve got all the books with me. $400 is chump change when I get that kind of convenience.

By: Herne

Herne — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:07:15 +0000

I’m not interested in purchasing ephemeral products. Neither offers a physical book along with the purchase of an eBook. Why would I pay $10 for data when I can buy a book and resell that book when I’m done reading it? I can’t trade in an eBook, I can’t put an eBook on a shelf, and I can’t give an eBook to a friend after I’ve read it. Why would I want to be locked into Amazon’s or Sony’s eBook store for content? Take a page out of the book of Apple and build an open device with WiFi and SD support, and offer a physical component. Otherwise you’re just blowin wind.

By: Tore

Tore — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:45:31 +0000

That depends upon how it is presented. Saying 8/12 people likes the Kindle better is unscientific. You shouldn’t present data like that if it’s a qualitative focus.

By: links for 2009-07-09 « 個人的な雑記

links for 2009-07-09 « 個人的な雑記 — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:01:47 +0000

[...] It’s official (kind of): People prefer the Kindle (tags: kindle) [...]

By: Carl G

Carl G — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:39:33 +0000

Still prefer books to ereaders… Though now that Kindle lowered it’s price I might test drive it.

By: Dawn M

Dawn M — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:33:42 +0000

I don’t understand the continued references to the fact that you can change text size on the Sony. The kindle has buttons on the keyboard for choosing different font sizes.

I’ve had a Kindle 2 since March. I couldn’t imagine spending my own money on it so I asked all of my family for amazon gift certs for my birthday and then purchased it plus a cover. I LOVE it. For a book lover who reads in any spare moment possible I’ve really enjoyed having the kindle.

I also got sick of running out of space for my books at home, and it was hard to give them away, and god forbid you threw them away. Anyway, two thumbs up for me on the Kindle 2 especially after seeing the Sony next to it in this article.

By: Aaron

Aaron — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:20:56 +0000

Rabble, Rabble, Rabble

By: Old Guy

Old Guy — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:54:24 +0000

Even us “old people” know the Kindle is another device to add to the iPod/the iTouch/the netbook and the government tabletPC they are already carrying. And being old, every addtion to weight is a problem.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:47:18 +0000

Well I’m glad we got a solid sample of the population for this article.

By: Mike Cerm

Mike Cerm — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:31:16 +0000

It’s not an important market, and people aren’t willing to dish out cash on this kind of thing.

If you actually read the finding, not one of the 12 people would consider buying either device. “The couple of users who said they would consider buying a Kindle lost interest once retail pricing was discussed”.

Most had already ruled out either device regardless of price. Some were not big readers, some preferred the feel of books, and some just didn’t want another device in their life. No matter how you slice it, people don’t want these things, and will never.

Eventually these reader devices will morph into something totally different. For example, in 10 years, maybe you’ll be able to get a full-color e-ink CrunchPad for $100. Maybe then, people might be interested.

By: Doug Hadden

Doug Hadden — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:13:13 +0000

The competitive advantage of the Sony is the ability to load PDF, Word and Text documents. Amazon is looking to control the entire e-book supply chain.

By: Screen Sleuth

Screen Sleuth — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:02:53 +0000

The Kindle is a nice unit, but its overpriced for what it does.

By: Ethan

Ethan — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:45:42 +0000

FYI: In qualitative research – which focuses on user insight, not statistical value – 12 people, chosen scientifically, is a perfectly reliable sample set. It would be “unscientific” if the report was being presented as “statistically significant.” However, Catalyst doesn’t make that claim. Criticizing the sample size completely misses the point of the entire undertaking.

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:44:54 +0000

I own the first-gen versions of both devices (Kindle 1 and PRS-500), and I hands-down prefer the Kindle.

Basically it comes down to two things:

1. Sony’s store is terrible and Amazon’s is, well, Amazon.
2. I can turn the thing on when I’m leaving the house, and by the time I get on the subway, I’ve got that day’s NY Times via Whispernet, without having to plug anything in or press any buttons or whatever.